Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
New movie is the pride of Paarl
THE Paarl community is delighted at the completion of a locally produced film titled Life Happened that is about to hit the big screen.
The film features experienced actor Anele Matoti who is known for his work on The Red Sea Diving Resort and The Mauritanian. Matoti stars alongside Siya Bangani from Paarl who also produced the film.
The film is about Vincent “Vince” Mafila, a gardener in his mid-fifties played by Matoti. He buried his dreams and settled for a quiet life – living in the “closet”.
Vince firmly believes that being a good person equates to getting all the good things in life. That belief is proven wrong when he is diagnosed with cancer and probably has a month to live.
Now he is haunted by his past and trapped by regrets about not living his truth.
Each week he consults a therapist, played by Thaamir Moerat, to help him face his sudden reality. Instead of opening up, he chooses to sleep for the entire session and dream of what his life could have been.
One minute, Vince is seen as a legendary best-selling gay author being interviewed on television. Next we see him connecting the dots from his past. Vince is questioning everything: “Will they know that I existed?” “What would be my legacy?”
Director of the film Anele Geqiwe said the idea came when he was turning 30. “I had a bit of an existential crisis. I was asking myself some big questions like, ‘Who am I?’ and “What’s the point of it all?’ I want to make the kind of films that will start a conversation or help us make sense of the times we live in.”
This is Geqiwe’s directorial debut. He previously wrote and produced a short film, This Is No Funny Matter, that was nominated for Best Short Film at the London Shorts Film Festival in 2021.
“It’s so surreal that all the people I approached said yes and invested in the film. Some sent cash without even reading the script,” said Geqiwe.
Bangani said Life Happened is not his first movie but it’s his first feature-length movie.
“Shooting with a big star was surreal, sometimes I couldn’t believe that I was in the same space and set as Anele Matoti, because I grew up watching him on Shooting Stars way back.
“This is my fourth project now that I shot in Paarl. Every time I work closer to home it gives me so much joy because once upon a time all this felt like it could only happen when I’m in the heart of Cape Town not on the outskirts.”
Matoti shared his experience working with a young cast.
“Every film set has its ups and downs. Being on the set of Life Happened and seeing the love and passion made the experience all the more fulfilling. People must watch the show because it carries a strong message.
“Who you are and what you dream of is very important to the development of who you are.”
The film will be first shown in Paarl on Friday before going to other areas.